Pastors and Children

Christmas Begins with John

The Chowchilla News Pastor’s Commentary by John Parker December 6, 2006<= /o:p>

Christmas begins with John! = No, not me…even though I am a third child and, being just tad ego-centric, might like that!!

Christmas begins John the Baptist’s conception and birth. He was a cousin to Jesus and the one who later, as an adult, announces Jesus’ ministry to Israel.

One day at the Jerusalem temple t= he angel Gabriel pays a visit to the old priest Zachariah and says, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, a= nd your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John…and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn t= he hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of= the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced = in years.”

And the angel answered him, ̶= 0;I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you = and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to s= peak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1:13-20)

Then, for over nine months Zachar= iah couldn’t say a word. He was given a heavenly “time-out” to think things over. Any of us can get one of these holy shut downs when we debate and doubt the simple promises of God’s Word.=

The Bible records what happens ne= xt.

“Now the time came for Elizabeth to give = birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lo= rd had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth= day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” (She was definitely on top-of-it and allowed to talk! Bu= t no one really listened.)

And they said to her, “None= of your relatives is called by this name.”

And they made signs to his father= , inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrot= e, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

(Now, with this written confessio= n, things begin to really open up for Zachariah!)

Immediately his mouth was opened = and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill coun= try of Judea, and all who heard them laid th= em up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:57-68)

Zach got his voice came back when= , in front of his friends, family, and spiritual leaders, he confessed the very = Word of God which Gabriel proclaimed to him, “His name is John.”&nbs= p; After that his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessi= ng God…praising and prophesying beautiful words of hope about his son, h= is nation, and about the coming Messiah! Many lives were blessed by Zachariah = when he confessed his agreement with the Word of God publicly. =

Our own voices will come back and= be influential when we too quit debating with God over our circumstances and limitations and just declare with faith his word. Here’s a good= one to start with, “With God nothing is impossible!”

May this be a Word and Faith-fill= ed Holiday season for you!

“GivemHeaven!”---<= span style=3D'font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:blue'>Pastor John=

Contact Pastor Parker at: CoachingParker@comcast.net

Rev. John Parker is pastor of ChristChurch Chowchilla located at 260 N. Sixth Street, = Chowchilla, CA. Sunday Service = is at 10 AM.